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Kinematics

Introduction and examples................................................................... 1

Definitions............................................................................................ 1
Example 1.............................................................................................. 3
Example 2............................................................................................. 3
Example 3............................................................................................. 4
Vertical Motion Under Gravity............................................................ 5
Example 4............................................................................................. 5
Example 5............................................................................................. 6
Example 6............................................................................................. 7
Questions A............................................................................................. 8
Speed Time Graphs............................................................................... 11
Definitions........................................................................................... 11
Example 1............................................................................................. 11
Example 2............................................................................................ 12
Example 3............................................................................................ 13
Problems involving two vehicles......................................................... 14
Example 4............................................................................................ 14
Questions B............................................................................................ 15

Introduction and examples

Kinematics is the study of the motion of particles. In M1 all
motion will have constant acceleration. This leads to the
development of the constant acceleration equations.

Definitions
a = acceleration (ms-2)
u = initial velocity (ms-1)
v = final velocity (ms-1)
t = time (second)
s = displacement (metres)

If we know any of the three we can find the other two.

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From GCSE you should remember that:

change in velocity
acceleration =
time

v-u
∴ a=
t

so v = u + at (1)
As mentioned above the acceleration is constant hence the
average velocity is simply the average of u and v.
u+ v
average velocity =
2
Another definition is that:
displacement s
average velocity = =
time t
Therefore:
u+ v s
=
2 t

u+ v
∴ s =   t (2)
 2 
By using equation (1) we can eliminate v.
u + u + at 
∴ s =  t
 2 

1
s = ut + at2 (3)
2
If equation (1) is rearranged to make t the subject:
v-u
t=
a
Then by substituting into equation (2):
u + v   v-u 
∴ s =   
 2  a 

2as = v2 - u2

v2 = u2 + 2as (4)
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You must learn all four equations above and remember that they
only apply to constant acceleration problems. Since velocity is a
vector quantity, getting the direction right in these problems is
vital.

Example 1
A particle is moving in a straight line from O to P with a constant
acceleration of 4ms-2. Its velocity at P is 48ms-1 and it takes 12
seconds to travel from O to P. Find (a) the particle’s velocity at O
and (b) the distance OP.
With all problems of this nature, write down what you are
given and the one required. It should then be obvious as to
which equation you need to use.

a) a = 4, u = ?, v = 48, t = 12
Obviously we need to use equation (1):
v = u + at
48 = u + 4 × 12
Therefore u = 0ms-1
b) a = 4, u = o, v = 48, t = 12, s=?
Using equation (3):
1
s = ut + at2
2

1
s= × 4 × 122
2

s = 288m

Example 2
Percy starts from rest at a station S and moves with constant
acceleration. He passes a signal box B 14 seconds later with a
speed of 84kmh-1. Modelling the train as a particle, find the
acceleration of the train in ms-2 and the distance in metres
between the station and the signal box.
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u = 0, t = 14, v = 84kmh-1 a = ?, s=?

Using equation (1) :
v = u + at
84000/60/60 = 0 + 14a
a = 1.67ms-2

Once again using equation (3)

1
s = ut + at2
2

1 5
s= × × 142
2 3

s = 163.33m = 163m

Example 3
ET is travelling up a hill on his BMX. He experiences a constant
retardation of magnitude 3ms-2. Given that his speed at the
bottom of the hill was 15ms-1 determine how far he will travel
before he comes to rest.
Retardation is simply deceleration.
a = -3, u = 15, v = 0, s=?
There is no mention of time therefore we use equation (4):
v2 = u2 + 2as

0 = 225 - 2 × 3 × s

s = 37.5m
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Vertical Motion Under Gravity

A few assumptions need to be stated before continuing.
1. Objects will be treated as particles.
2. Motion will only be in a straight line.
3. No evidence of spinning or turning of objects.
4. Particles will have constant acceleration of g (9.8ms ).
-2

If an object is projected vertically upwards and it falls 3m below

the point of release then the time taken can be calculated by
setting s = -3m and a = -9.8 and substitute the values into
equation (3). A lot of students work out the time the object takes
to reach the top, then the time to return to point of release and
finally the -3m part, but this much more complicated than what
you need to do!

It is also worth noting at this point that time taken to reach

maximum height and fall back down to the point of release are
the same. This type of question regularly appears on exam papers
and it is far quicker to use the first method.

Example 4
A Kinder Surprise falls off a shelf which is 0.9 m above the floor.
Find:
(a) the time it takes to reach the floor
(b) the speed with which it will reach the floor.

a) s = 0.9, a = 9.8, u = 0, t=?

Using equation (3):
1
s = ut + at2
2

1
0.9 = × 9.8 × t2
2

s = 0.429sec
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b) s = 0.9, a = 9.8, u = 0, t = 0.429, v = ?

Using equation (1):
v = u + at
v = 0 + 9.8 × 0.429
v = 4.20ms-1

Example 5
A bouncy ball B is projected vertically upwards from a point O
with a speed of 42ms-1. Find:
(a) the greatest height h above O reached by B
(b) the total time before B returns to O
(c) the total distance travelled by the particle.
With questions of this nature one has to be careful as to
which direction is positive.

Max Height

Acceln = -9.8

42ms-1

Start/End

a) At the greatest height, v = 0,

u = 42, a = -9.8, s = ?
Using equation (4):
v2 = u2 + 2as

0 = 422 - 2 × 9.8 × s

422
s=
19.6

s = 90m
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b) When the ball returns to B its displacement will be zero!

s = 0, a = -9.8, u = 42, t=?
Using equation (3):
1
s = ut + at2
2

0 = 42t-4.9t2
Factorising gives:
7t( 0.7t - 6 ) = 0

Therefore t = 0,t = 8.57sec

c) In part (a) we found the distance to the top therefore we only

need to double the answer.
Total distance = 180m

Example 6
A cricket ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of
15ms-1. Modelling the ball as a particle moving under gravity
alone, find for how long its height exceeds 10 m.

We need to find the times at which the ball has a displacement of

10m.
a = -9.8, u = 15, s = 10, t=?
Using equation (3):
1
s = ut + at2
2

10 = 15t - 4.9t2

4.9t2 - 15t + 10 = 0
By using the quadratic formula we find the two values of t.
15 ± 225 − 4 × 10 × 4.9
t=
9.8
t = 2.08 or 0.98.
Therefore the ball is above 10m for 1.1 second.
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Questions A

1 A car moves with constant acceleration along a straight

horizontal road. The car passes the point A with speed 7ms-1 and
5 seconds later it passes the point B, where AB = 53m.
a) Find the acceleration of the car.
When the car passes the point C, it has a speed of 26ms-1.
b) Find the distance AC.

2 A competition diver makes a dive from a highboard into a

pool. She leaves the board vertically with a speed of 4ms-
1
upwards. When she leaves the board, she is 6m above the
surface of the pool. The diver is modelled as a particle moving
vertically under gravity alone and it is assumed that she does not
hit the springboard as she descends.
a) Find her speed as she reaches the surface of the pool.
b) Find the time taken to reach the surface of the pool.
c) State two physical characteristics that have been ignored in
the model.

3 A car moves from rest at a point O and moves in a straight

line. The car moves with constant acceleration 5ms-2 until it
passes the point A when it is moving with speed 14 ms-1. It then
moves with constant acceleration 2 ms-2 for 8 seconds until it
reaches the point B.
a) Find the speed of the car at B.
b) Find the distance OB.
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4 An aircraft moves along a straight horizontal runway with

constant acceleration. It passes a point A on the runway with
speed 15ms-1. It then passes the point B on the runway with speed
39ms-1. The distance AB is 190m.
a) Find the acceleration of the aircraft.
b) Find the time taken by the aircraft in moving from A to B.
c) Find the speed of the aircraft when it passes the mid point of
A and B.

5 A racing car moves along a straight horizontal road with

constant acceleration. It passes the point O with speed 11ms-1. It
passes the point A, 4 seconds later with speed 55ms-1.
a) Find the acceleration of the car.
b) Find the distance OA.
c) Find the speed of the car as it passes the midpoint of OA.

6 A body is projected vertically upwards from ground level at

a speed of 49ms-1. Find the length of time for which the body is
at least 78.4m above the ground.

7 A body is projected vertically upwards from ground level at

a speed of 14ms-1. Find the height of the body above the level of
projection after:
a) 1 second of motion
b) 2 seconds of motion
Find the distance travelled by the body in the 2nd second of
motion.
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8 A balloon is moving vertically upwards with a steady speed

3ms-1. When it reaches a height of 36m above the ground an
object is released from the balloon. The balloon then accelerates
upwards at a rate of 2ms-2. Find
a) the greatest height of the object above the ground.
b) the speed of the object as it hits the ground.
c) the time taken by the object from leaving the balloon to
striking the ground.
d) the speed of the balloon as the object hits the ground.

9 A cyclist travels on a straight road with a constant

acceleration of 0.6 ms-2. P and Q are 120m apart. Given that the
cyclist increases his speed by 6ms-1 as he travels from P to Q.
Find:
a) the speed of the cyclist at P
b) the time taken to travel from P to Q

10 Oblivion at Alton Towers has a vertical drop of 60m.

Assuming that the ride starts from rest, calculate the speed of
the ride at the bottom of the pit.
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Speed Time Graphs

Definitions
For constant acceleration problems the speed time graph will
be a straight line.
The gradient of the graph is the acceleration.
The area under the graph represents the distance traveled.

Example 1
A body starts from rest, accelerates uniformly to a velocity of
8ms-1 in 2 seconds, maintains that velocity for a further 5
seconds, and then retards uniformly to rest. The entire journey
takes 11 seconds.
Find:
a) the acceleration of the body during the initial part of the
motion.
b) The retardation of the body in the final part of the motion.
c) The total distance traveled by the body

In these type of questions it is vital that you make a sketch of

the motion.
9

6
velocity (m/s)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
tim e (s)
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a) As the definitions suggested earlier the acceleration is simply

the gradient of the velocity time graph. This is:
grad = 8/2 = 4ms-2.
b) Similarly for the retardation:
grad = 8/4 = 2ms-2.
c) The total distance travelled by the body is equal to the area of
under the graph.
Area = 0.5 × 8 × ( 11 + 5 )
= 64m

Example 2
A car accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 10ms-1 in T
seconds. The car then travels for 4T seconds and finally
decelerates uniformly to rest in a further 70s. The total distance
traveled by the car is 1250m. Find:
a) the value of T.
b) the initial acceleration of the car.
Once again, sketch the journey.

10ms-1

T 5T 5T+70

a) the area under the graph must equal 1250.

1250 = 10T + 40T + 700/2
900 = 50T
T = 18sec.
b) The car accelerates to 10ms-1 in 18 seconds, therefore the
acceleration is:
Acceln = 10/18 = 0.556ms-2
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Example 3
A train is traveling along a straight track between the points P
and Q. It starts from rest at P and accelerates at 3ms-2 until it
reaches a speed of 54ms-1. It continues at a constant speed of
54ms-1 for a further 180seconds and then decelerates at a
constant deceleration of 6ms-2.
a) sketch a speed time graph for the train’s journey.
b) calculate the total time for the journey from P to Q.
c) calculate the distance between P and Q.

a) The train will take 54/3 seconds to reach the constant speed
(18seconds). It will take 54/6 seconds to decelerate to rest (9
seconds). Hence the graph will have the following shape.

54ms-1

18 198 207

b) the total time for the journey is 207 seconds.

c) the total distance is once again equal to the area under the
graph.
Area = (54 × 18)/2 + 54 × 180 + (54 × 9)/2
Distance = 10449m = 10.4Km
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Problems involving two vehicles

Example 4
Two particles A and B are traveling along a straight path PQ of
length 20m. A leaves P, heading for Q, from rest with
acceleration of 2ms-2 and at the same time B leaves Q, in the
direction of P, from rest with a constant acceleration of 5ms-2.
Find how far from A the two particles collide?
Let the point of collision be x metres from P and hence (20 – x)m
from Q.
So for particle A: u=0 a=2 t=T s=x
Using:
1
s = ut + at2
2

x = t2 (i)
So for particle B: u=0 a=5 t=T s=
20 - x
Using
1
s = ut + at2
2

20 - x = 2.5t2
Substituting (i) gives:
20 - t2 = 2.5t2

t = 2.39sec
Using (i) again:
x = 2.392
x = 5.71m
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Questions B
1 The diagram shows the sketch of a velocity time graph for a
particle moving in a straight line. Find the value of T given that:

10ms-1

a) the distance covered is 100m.

b) the constant speed attained by the particle is 10ms
-1

c) the rate of acceleration is twice the rate of retardation.

d) The time spent at constant speed is equal to the total
time spent accelerating and decelerating.

2 Two trains, P and Q, run on parallel straight tracks. Initially

both trains are at rest. At time t = 0, P moves off with constant
acceleration for 15 seconds until it reaches a speed of 30ms-1 . P
then continues at a constant speed. At time t = 35seconds Q
moves off with the same acceleration until it reaches a speed of
55ms-1 . Q then continues at this constant speed. Train Q
overtakes P whilst both trains are travelling at constant speeds
after time T. Sketch a speed time graph for the journeys and
find the value of T.

3 A particle Q starts from rest at a point O and accelerates

at 3ms-2 until it reaches a speed V ms-2. Q then continues at the
constant speed for 90 seconds before decelerating at 1.5 ms-2 to
come to rest at the point R. If the entire journey takes 150
seconds find the distance QR. Make sure that you draw a speed
time graph.
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4 A racing car moves in a straight line. The car accelerates at

8ms-2 for 5 seconds, maintains a steady speed for 15 seconds and
then decelerates to rest in 9 seconds. Sketch a velocity time
graph for the car and calculate the total distance travelled.